As Coles launches its annual Christmas appeal with food rescue charity SecondBite, Christmas hams will be distributed to community food charities across Australia to help struggling families and community organisations host festive Christmas gatherings.
This year’s Coles Christmas Appeal comes as research shows 60 per cent of Australians and over two thirds of families are worried about their ability to cover their needs as the cost-of-living rises.
Victorian charity St Mary’s House of Welcome is one of the recipients of Coles’ ham donations and CEO Robina Bradley said the hams will be cooked for a festive lunch with vulnerable community members.
“Many of the people we are seeing are more vulnerable than ever. The hams donated to us by Coles will go a long way in helping to ensure Christmas is a special time for our service users.
“They will be used to provide them with the type of festive lunch that many Australians take for granted, and, perhaps more importantly, it will help some of the most vulnerable people in our community know they are valued and cared for,” said Bradley.
All funds raised in this year’s Coles Christmas Appeal will help SecondBite rescue and deliver unsold edible food to around 1,100 community food relief organisations nationally.
Shoppers can support the appeal by purchasing a $2 donation card at a Coles supermarket checkout from today until Christmas Eve or by making a donation at Liquorland, First Choice Liquor Market or Vintage Cellars store until 13 December.
SecondBite ambassador and board director Matt Preston said this year had been challenging for SecondBite’s community food partners, with nearly 40 per cent of organisations reporting they had experienced a significant increase in demand for food relief.
“With higher rental prices and utility bills, people are financially prioritising in a way they haven’t before. Parents are missing meals so that their kids can eat, and pensioners are skipping meals to keep their heaters or coolers on.
“That’s why the the Christmas Appeal is so important. It helps SecondBite run its essential services of picking up food daily from supermarkets and suppliers and delivering to those who need it most. For as little as $2, shoppers can help SecondBite to provide the equivalent of ten meals to a person or family in need,” said Preston.
Since forming partnerships with SecondBite in 2011 and Foodbank in 2003, Coles has donated the equivalent of 223 million meals.
In FY22, Coles donated the equivalent of 37.5 million meals to Aussies in need, its highest ever annual total.
Throughout the year, more than 800 Coles supermarkets and distribution centres donate unsold, edible food to SecondBite and its network of around 1100 food relief and community organisations across Australia.
